Electron relay



S. RUBEN ELECTRON RELAY May 3 1927.

Original Filed 0ot.'-2s. 192

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vapor. In carrying out the. invention,

Patented May-3 1927. I

" UNITED sTArEs I 0 1,627,411 PATENT OFFICE.

SAIUEL BUIBEN OI' NEW YORK N. Y.

ELECTRON BELLY.

Application fled October 28, 1920, Serial No. 418,898. Renewed September 22, 1826.

This invention relates to a means for uti lizing the kinetic energy of electrons in an exhausted tube, or electrons and ions in a tube which may contain more or less as or provide, in a vacuum tube, the usual filament or electron emission element and a grid element, and a plate element which is movable by variations in pressure in the electron stream flowing from the emission element to said plate element. This movable plate element is connected in a receiving or $1 aling circuit, wherein it may function either as a means for opening and closing said circuit, or as a means for varying the resistance of the circuit when the volume, and therefore the pressure, of the electron stream flowing to the plate element is varied, If the plate element isarranged. in close proximity to a contact member in a signaling circuit, the plate element may be used as a circuit making and breaking device, or, if arranged in actual engagement with a contactmember, such as a granule of graphite, the plate member may be used as a means for varying the resistance of the signaling circuit in accordance with variatlons in the volume of the electron stream.

In the accompanying drawing, for the purposesof illustration, I have shown a sensitive microphone within a vacuum tube,.

the diaphragm of the microphone constituting the plate element. The impact of the electrons in the electron stream passing from the filament to.the diaphragm exerts a pressure against the diaphragm, and this pressure is varied by the electrical impulses in the brations of the diaphragm. he microphone is connected in a si naling circuitprovided with a battery an telephone receiver, oi other si alingdevice, and the impulses in the gri circuitare repeatedand In the accompan ing- 'drawing, Fig. 1 is a contra sectipn through um relay embodying my invention; and,

Fig. 2 is a dia am showing the connections of the relay in a radio circuit. t e

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates exhausted tube, 2-the electron emission ole-- ment, and 3 indicates the grid element, which is preferably made in the form of a flat helix. A delicate microphone m is placed opposite the grid and the diaphragm rid circuit, causing corresponding vi-' supported against the diap ragm by a metal piece 6, connected to a conductin rod 7. This rod carries a semi-spherical msulator 8, which supports the diaphragm 4. The diaphragm is very light in weight and delicately mounted so that it may vibrate like a telephone transmitter and thus cause variations in the resistance of the contact between it and the gra hite. i

In Fig. 2, have illustrated diagrammatically the connections of the relay in a tuned radio circuit, which latter it is unnecessary to describe in detaiL. As shown in the diagram, the filament 2 and grid 3 are connected as usual in the filament and grid circuits, respectively, and the diaphragm 4 of the microphone is connected in the plate circuit. The diaphragm and graphite button 5 are connected in a local sure against the plate, will, however, vary in accordance with the impulses in the grid circuit and this will cause corresponding vibrations ofthe plate or diaphragm. The vibration of the diaphragm, as will be understood, will cause variations in the resistance of the contacts of the microphone and corresponding variations in the flow of current in the circuit 9, and amplified signals corresponding to those in the grid circuit will .be relayed'in' the local circuit. A 1 Any suitable form of microphone may be mo? 9. vacuemployed -and, the relay as a whole may be used. with aerlal circuits connected in various ways for telephonin telegraphing or signaling. By theter'nrp ate element in the claims I mean the element to which the elec- 105 tron stream flows from the emlssion element,

regardless of the form or substance of the former element. While in a well exhausted tube the relay functions purely by electronic emission, it will be understood that in a tube containing more or less gas there may be a combined electronic and Ionic emission clue to the impact of the electronsupon the gas particles,

What 1 claim isi 1. An electron relay comprising an electron emission element, a receiving circuit, means for varying the resistance in said circuit comprising aplate element movable in response to the kinetic energy of the electron stream issuing from said emission element, and means for varying the electron flow from'the emission element to the plate element.

2. An electron relay comprising a vacuum tube having therein an electron emission eiemarten ment, a grirl element and a microphone comprising tvvo contacting members one which functions as a plate element.

3. An electron relay comprising a vacuum tube having therein an electron emission element, a grid element and a microphone transmitter, the latter having a diaphragm con stituting a plate element.

4. An electron relay comprising a vacuum tube having therein an electron emission element, a gritl element, a vibratory diaphragm constituting a plate element, and a contactmernber adapted to be engaged by the aliaphragin.

in testimony whereof ll efiiz my signature.

RUBEN 

